The appeal and reviews of "Soul Link": A thorough analysis of the profound story and the appeal of its characters

Soul Link: A cosmic crisis meets youth

"Soul Link" is a TV anime series that aired in 2006, and its original work is by Navel, known for its 18+ games. This anime is set in the future universe and depicts the youth and battle for survival of young people. Below, we will introduce detailed information and reviews of the work, as well as recommended points.

Overview

"Soul Link" is set in the future of 2045, and tells the story of a group of students from the Central Military Academy who are visiting the space station "Aries" for space training, when it suddenly comes under attack. The students, including the protagonist, Ryota Aizawa, must survive the attack from the terrorist group "Hararaks" and fight to return to Earth.

Broadcast information

"Soul Link" was broadcast from April 2nd to June 29th, 2006. It was broadcast on UHF and AT-X, and consists of 13 episodes, each 30 minutes long. It was also broadcast on Chiba TV from April 1st to June 28th, 2006, every Saturday from 25:35 to 26:05.

Production Staff

The series is directed by Tokoro Toshikatsu, who also serves as series composer and director of photography. Animation is handled by Picture Magic, and the series is produced by Soul Link Media Project (Interchannel, Geneon Entertainment, AT-X, On the Run, Tokyo Denka). The original story is by Navel, with original illustrations and character designs by Suzuhira Hiro, character design by Watanabe Yoshihiro, and mechanical design by Hoshinoe Tomiya. Music is by Sawano Hiroyuki, and the theme song is sung by Hashimoto Miyuki.

Main Characters

・Ryota Aizawa : A third-year student at the Central Military Academy preparatory school. He is serious and takes things at his own pace, but he also lacks decisiveness. However, he is stubborn and will never give in to what he believes to be right.
・Nagase Sayaka : A third-year student at the Central Military Academy preparatory school. She is a girl with a clear way of speaking and a strong sense of action, and is very caring, so even her peers rely on her. She aims to become a fighter pilot.
・Aizawa Shuhei : A second-year student at the Central Military Academy. He has excellent grades and is an all-around athlete, but his lack of tact is a flaw. He has the strength and drive to never give up no matter what the situation.
Morisaki Nanao : A fourth-year student in the Central Military Academy preparatory course. A homely girl whose hobby is baking sweets. She is a hard worker and a reliable person, but she is a little out of touch with the world.
・Aki Nitta : A first-year student at the Central Military Academy preparatory school. Although she has a genius mind, she has a tendency to talk a lot and is not intimidated by people older than her. She becomes timid towards people who recognize her abilities.
Yu Yamanami : A civilian left behind by Aries. He only speaks the bare minimum and prefers to act on his own. He can be cold in his speech, but he means no harm.
Nanami Inatsuki : A civilian left behind by Aries. A lively and positive mood maker. She loves food and loves the hamburgers made by Nanao.
・Aya Sugimoto : Saka's childhood friend and best friend. A kind-hearted girl, she is too pure and shy at times, but she acts boldly when it comes to the things she likes.
Karen Tachibana : A member of Hararax. She has fighting power beyond her years, but her youthful impulsiveness and overconfidence are her downfall. She also has a cheerful and compassionate side that does not give up in the face of adversity.
・Celaria Marcalite : A temporary lecturer invited as a military advisor. In charge of English, mechanical engineering, and special training. Although he is strict about rules, he is generally gentle and considerate of his students.
・Nitta Kazuhiko : A third-year student in the preparatory course at the Central Military Academy. He is the heir to a large company and wears a custom-made uniform. He has outstanding abilities and computer skills, but is quiet and aloof.
・Shigemichi Morimoto : Aries' assistant manager. He is a highly professional, gentle and sincere person. He has a humorous personality and speaks in a nonchalant manner.
・Gale Lantis : Leader of the Hararax execution force. He has a well-trained body and a rough personality. He has a vulgar tone and a bad temper, but he is ambitious and knows the difference between profit and loss.

story

In the year 2045, Aizawa Ryota, a third-year student at the Central Military Academy, heads to the touring space station "Aries" for training with his senior Morisaki Nanao, classmates Nagase Sayaka and Nitta Kazuhiko. However, an armed terrorist group called "Hararax" attacks the station, and Ryota and his friends are forced to fight for their own survival. The story depicts the fight for survival, the bonds between friends, and the struggles of youth.

subtitle

・Episode 1: ENCOUNTER
・Episode 2/CONTACT
Episode 3: OUTBREAK
・Episode 4/BREATHING SPACE -Rest-
・Episode 5: WATERSHED - Crossroads -
・Episode 6/FAREWELL
・Episode 7/FLUX - Transience -
・Episode 8: DESIRE
・Episode 9/ROUSE -Awakening-
・Episode 10: STRAY
・Episode 10.5/Special flashback edition -CELLARIA/NANAMI-
・Episode 11/MOURNING -Condolence-
・Episode 12/JOURNEY

Theme songs and music

The opening theme "screaming" was written by AlAi, composed by Accorike, arranged by Masaki Suzuki, and sung by Miyuki Hashimoto. The ending theme "dust trail" was written by Takuki Fujimi, composed by Accorike, arranged by Masaki Suzuki, and sung by Miyuki Hashimoto.

Evaluation and Impressions

"Soul Link" is a survival story set in space, but it also has strong elements of a coming-of-age drama. The characters have rich personalities, and their backgrounds and growth are carefully depicted, which is commendable. In particular, the protagonist Ryota's journey to overcome difficulties together with his friends is deeply moving to the viewer. Additionally, the fight against terrorists and the tension in outer space are also beautifully portrayed, drawing viewers in as the story unfolds.

However, because the original work was an R18 game, it was difficult to adapt it for a general audience, and there were some scenes where the relationships and development of the characters felt unnatural. Also, it was difficult to fully depict the stories of all the characters in the short 13 episodes, and some viewers may feel unsatisfied.

Recommended points

"Soul Link" is recommended for those who want to enjoy a survival and youth drama set in space. It is especially worth watching for those who are interested in the growth of the characters and changes in human relationships. Hiroyuki Sawano's music and Miyuki Hashimoto's theme song are also part of the appeal, enriching the viewing experience. Furthermore, the battle scenes in space and the mechanical design are also highlights, and there are plenty of elements that sci-fi fans can enjoy.

This work will provide viewers with a lot of excitement and emotion through the theme of youth and the struggle for survival.